Frames for supporting wigs during the processing thereof



R. A. GEORGE June 3, 1969 Sheet 012 Filed Nov. 28, 1967 INVENTOR 05547 4 650(6&

ATTORNEY R. A. GEORGE June 3, 1969 FRAMES FOR SUPPORTING WIGS DURING THE PROCESSING THEREOF ATTORNEY Filed Nov. 28, 1967 United States Patent 3,447,726 FRAMES FOR SUPPORTING WIGS DURING THE PROCESSING THEREOF Robert A. George, New York, N.Y., assignor to Genie gigs, Inc., New York, N.Y., a corporation of New ork Filed Nov. 28, 1967, Ser. No. 686,097 Int. Cl. D06c 15/00; A41g /00; G09f 19/00 US. Cl. 223-66 19 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE An open-work frame for supporting a wig or hairpiece during such operations as permanent waving, setting, chemical treatment, dyeing and cleansing. The wig-supporting member comprises an arrangement of spaced ribs with relatively rigid and yieldable portions and adapted to adjustably accommodate wigs of various sizes, the member having a handle internally connected to the crown and fastener elements on said ribs for holding the wig against movement relative to the frame and for maintaining it in taut condition.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The field of the invention This invention relates to frames for Supporting Wigs and hairpieces during the treating and processing thereof, and is particularly directed to frames of said category adapted to adjusta-bly receive thereover and securely hold wigs during washing, cleansing, dyeing and setting operations.

The known art The widespread use of wigs has created the need for processing methods adapted to perform the necessary operations quickly, effectively and economically. Attempts to meet this demand have resulted in wig supports with inherent shortcomings that render the operations of shampooing, chemical cleansing, dyeing, permanent waving and other processing steps time-consuming, difficult to perform, costly and generally unsatisfactory in result. Certain of the known wig supports require repeated mounting and unmounting of the wigs for different operational steps, with consequent deformation of the wig shape and shrinking of the Wig net. Among other shortcomings of presently employed commercial wig supports are the matting and backing up of the hair through the netting and the inadequate penetration of dyeing and other chemical sprays where the device permits the spraying only from the outside, the need to use different frames for different sized Wigs and the shifting of the wig on the frame. In order to overcome the said shifting, it has been the practice to employ a great many pins or other fasteners which are inserted from the outer or hair side of the Wig, certain of such devices also requiring a special porous foam cap over the frame to receive the pins. The use of such pins and their attachment to the wig from the outside not only cause a mutilation or disturbance of the hair setting, but also result in considerable loss of time both in the application of the fasteners and in their removal. Certain other widely used wig supports have a canvas covering over which the wig is applied, an arrangement which results in the accumulation of liquid between the Wig and the support, causing a soaking of the canvas and thereby keeping the support out of use until the covering has become thoroughly dried.

Objectives of the invention The present invention has for its objectives the provision of an economical, eificient, easily manipulated and adjustable wig support without any of the aforesaid disadvantages. Specifically, among the objects of this invention are the following: to provide a single frame, free of liquid-permeable material, that will receive wigs of various sizes, and that will operatively support the wig throughout all the treating operations, without any need to remove it, until it is ready to be delivered to the owner; to permit the handling of the frame-supported wig for placement in various treating, rinsing and drying positions; to enable the rinsing and drying of the wig to be performed from the inside, as well as from the outside, thereby preventing matting and backing up of hair through the netting; to enable finishing sprays to be applied from the inside as well as the outside, thereby to reach more of the coiffure than is possible with outside spraying alone; to maintain the wig under tension during all the processing steps, thereby preventing shrinkage or deformation of the wig; to permit combing of the wig smoothly and without the danger of obstructions to the combs movements; and to enable the wig to be quickly secured to the frame in taut condition without the use of loose fasteners, thereby obviating the inconvenience of working with a large number of removable pins and eliminating any disturbance to the setting of the hair.

Other objects, features and advantages will appear from the drawings and the description hereinafter given.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The wig-supporting frame member of this invention comprises an open-work arrangement of rib elements shaped to accommodate thereover a wig. The elements are of relatively stiff and preferably resilient material, and are in spaced relation so as to permit liquid operatively applied to the mounted Wig freely to pass through the spaces. The arrangement of said rib elements is such as to form a relatively rigid front portion merging with two laterally opposite side portions of some yieldability, and a rear portion of substantially greater yieldability. In the particular construction illustrated, there is a perforated apical crown plate, the front section of the frame consisting of a plurality of arcuate rib elements extending generally downwardly from said plate and maintained in substantially mutually fixed relative positions by a horizontal connecting band. Also extending downwardly radially from said crown plate are a plurality of arcuate rib elements disposed rearwardly of the front section and referred to herein as constituting the rear portion of the frame. The rib elements in the rear section have free lower terminals, whereby they have greater yieldability than the side and front wire elements. Attached to the underside of said crown plate and extending generally downwardly therefrom is an interior stem the lower portion of which is attached to a handle, the arrangement being such as to leave almost the entire interior of the frame unobstructed for inside spraying and washing. Extending outwardly from the bottom portions of certain front, rear and side ribs are prong elements arranged for penetration into the overlying wig to firmly hold it in position and yet permit the ready removal thereof. The construction includes resilient prong-supporting means, whereby prongs can be yieldably retracted to non-interfering positions while the wig is being placed over the frame, the release of such means causing the prongs to snap into penetrating engagement with the wig.

When a wig is operatively slipped over the frame it presses the lateral and rear rib elements inwardly, the resiliency and yieldability of said elements causing them to firmly engage the inner netted lining of the wig, the relatively rigid front portion serving as a fixed anchorage. When the said fastening prongs are operatively projected into place, the wig is maintained against displacement during all the processing operations, the handle and stem enabling the wig to be operatively treated from the inside as well as from the outside. After the completion of the wig treatment, certain of said fastening prongs are retracted from their engaging positions to permit the removal of the wig in condition ready for wearing.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a side view of a preferred embodiment of the invention, the dot-dash lines showing retracted positions of certain elements.

FIG. 2 is a front view of the device of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a rear view thereof.

FIG. 4 is a section of FIG. 2 taken substantially along line 4-4 of FIGURE 2 showing a wig operatively positioned on the frame, a part being broken away for clarity.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged fragment of FIG. 4, the dot-dash lines showing the retractable bar in an operatively retracted position.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing a wig mounted on the device of this invention supported by a stand in position for operative treatment.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing the device with a wig thereon being subjected to a processing spray directed to the interior portion thereof.

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary perspective of a fragment of a modification of this invention shown operatively supporting a wig.

DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT In the embodiment of by invention illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 7, the wig-supporting frame member generally designated comprises an open-work structure of an arrangement of spaced, relatively stiff and preferably resilient rib elements generally designated 16, said elements being of substantially arcuate configuration and extending generally downwardly and radially from the apical crown member 17, the latter, in the particular form shown in the drawings, containing the perforated portions 18. The said rib elements and crown member are so assembled as to form a structure shaped to accommodate thereover a wig, as will more clearly appear from the description hereinafter given.

Extending across and connecting the rib elements at the front of said frame member is the relatively stiff curvilinear band member 19, the arrangement being such as to maintain the connected rib elements in substantially mutually fixed relative positions. As illustrated, said band member 19 is attached to the bottom portions of the front rib elements 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 2S and 26, the lateral ends of said band member being attached to the respective opposite lateral rib elements 27 and 28. The lateral rib elements 29 and 29a, and the rear rib elements 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37 and 38 preferably extend below the level of said band member 19, and have free lower ends.

The above described combination of rib elements, band member and crown member thus constitute a frame member having a relatively rigid front section 39, two laterally opposite side sections 40 and 41 of some flexibility, and a rear section 42 of substantially greater flexibility. It is to be noted that the flexibility of the lateral rib elements 27 and 28 is limited because of their attachment to the respective opposite ends of said band member 19.

Extending down from said crown member 17 along the inside of the front section of the frame member is the spring loaded retractable bar 43, said bar being disposed behind the central rib element 23 and extending below said band member 19 to provide the finger extension 44 positioned for manual manipulation. Said bar carries the forwardly extending prongs 45 and 46 flanking said central rib element 23 and proportioned and positioned to extend respectively through the two apertures 47 and 48 in said band member 19. In the preferred embodiment said prongs 45 and 46 are punched out of said bar and .4 extend obliquely downwardly. The said bar 43, which is preferably of stiff resilient material, is normally in yieldable pressing engagement against said central rib element 23, the said prongs normally extending through said apertures 47 and 48 forwardly beyond the outer surface of said band member 19. When finger pressure is applied to said bar extension 44 in the direction of arrow A (FIG. 5), the bar 43 will be retracted to the indicated dot-dash position to withdraw said prongs from their operative protruding position illustrated in full lines.

The said lateral rib elements 27 and 28 also carry a plurality of vertically aligned prongs, the embodiment illustrated having prongs 49 and 50 on rib 27 and prongs 51 and 52 on rib 28. The rear rib elements 32 and 36, flanking and equidistant from the rear central rib element 34, each carries a plurality of vertically aligned prongs, rib 32 having thereon the prongs 53, 54 and 55 and the rib 36 having thereon the prongs 56, 57 and 58. All said prongs are preferably, although not necessarily, punched out of their respective rib elements, and extend outwardly and preferably in obliquely downward directions.

In the particular embodiment illustrated, the said crown member 17 comprises an upper plate 59 convexly curved at the top, and a lower disc 60, the said rib elements and said retractable bar 43 having their upper end portions positioned between and suitably secured to said plate 59 and disc 60. Suitably attached to said crown member 17 is the stem 61 extending downwardly through the interior of said frame member 15 and therebelow, the bottom of said stem having a handle 62 for manual grasping, or for placement over a suitable base member 63 in known manner.

In operatively applying a wig 64 to the frame member 15 for treatment of the various kinds above mentioned, the lower inner surface 65 of the wig is placed against the front medial portion of the band member 19, the bar 43 being manually retracted in the manner above described, the top of the wig being placed over the crown member 17 and the rear of the wig slipped over the rear section 42 of the frame. The bar 43 is then released, whereby the prongs 45 and 46 will snap forwardly and penetrate the inner lining 66 of the wig and enter the body thereof, thereby hooking the front of the wig in place. Thereafter the sides and rear portions of the wig are hooked on the adjacent lateral and rear prongs. As illustrated, when the sides of the wig are pulled down over the said side sections 40 and 41, the respective prongs 49, 50 and 51, 52 will engage the adjacent inner portions of the wig, cooperating with the said prongs 45 and 46 to hold the wig in position. When the rear portion of the wig is pulled down against the holding action of the side and front prong anchorages, the rear inner portions are operatively attached to the adjacent prongs on the rib elements 32 and 36, the attachment being effected when the wig is deemed to be sufiiciently taut and in proper tension.

The wig can be attached to all three of the prongs 53, 54, 55 and 56, 57, 58 if its head size is large enough, or to two of the prongs 53, 54 and 56, 57, or only to 53 and 56, depending upon the head size. The flexibility of the rear rib elements enables the frame to accommodate wigs of various head sizes, the relatively rigid front section 39 serving as a fixed anchorage, the limited flexibility of the side sections 40 and 41 permitting lateral adjustment under tension.

The wig is thus firmly secured in place, under proper tension, and maintained against displacement, during all the processing operations, by the holding action of the downwardly inclined prong elements. And it is maintained in shape by the accommodating action of the flexible rib elements.

When positioned on the base 63 (FIG. 6), it may be chemically treated, waved, set or otherwise processed. When held in the hand, as illustrated in FIG. 7, it may be chemically treated and washed both from the outside and inside without once removing the wig from the frame. The open-work frame structure above described permits complete peneration of any fluids that are applied both from the inside and the outside. The final processing and drying are completed with the frame on the base 63 or other support.

To remove the wig from the frame, the said bar 43 is retracted in the manner above described, thereby with drawing the prongs 45 and 46 from the engaging positions. The front of the wig is then slipped back and readily detached from the other prong elements. The wig is then ready for immediate wearing.

In the modification illustrated in FIG. 8, the rib elements 67 are of sinuous configuration providing a plurality of crests 68 against which the inner lining 69 of the wig 70 rests. This provides spaces 71 for processing liquids to enter, thereby insuring maximum operating contact of said liquids with the wig material, yet enabling the ribs to perform their supporting functions in the manner aforesaid.

In the above description, the invention has been disclosed merely by way of example and in preferred manner; but obviously many variations and modifications may be made therein.

I claim:

1. In a device for supporting a wig during the processing thereof, a frame shaped for receiving thereover the wig and of open-Work construction along substantially the entire extent of said frame, said frame having a front section and a rear section, one of said sections being substantially rigid, the other section being flexible, and securing means adjacent peripheral portions of said respective front and rear sections for releasable attachment to a wig operatively positioned on said frame.

2. In a device for supporting a wig during the processing thereof, the combination according to claim 1, and laterally opposite flexible side sections between said front and rear sections, said side sections being of less flexibility than the said flexible one of said other sections.

3. In a device for supporting a wig during the processing thereof, the combination according to claim 1, said frame having an apical crown member and a plurality of spaced rib elements attached to and extending generally downwardly from said crown member, said rib elements forming said front, side and rear sections.

4. In a device for supporting a wig during the processing thereof, the combination according to claim 3, said crown member having perforated portions, whereby both the apical and other portions of the frame are of openwork construction.

5. In a device for supporting a wig during the processing thereof, the combination according to claim 3, and a substantially stiff band member extending across and connecting the rib elements on the front section, whereby said latter elements are maintained in substantially mutually fixed relative positions.

6. In a device for supporting a wig during the process ing thereof, the combination according to claim 3, and a substantially stiff band member of curvilinear configuration extending across and having a portion thereof attached to the bottom portions of said front rib elements, whereby said latter elements are maintained in substantially mutually fixed relative positions.

7. In a device for supporting a wig during the processing thereof, the combination according to claim 6, the opopsite lateral ends of said band member extending to and being attached to two laterally opposite rib elements of said respective side sections.

8. In a device for supporting a wig during the processing thereof, the combination according to claim 7, said laterally opposite rib elements being separated from the next adjacent rearwardly disposed rib elements.

9. In a device for supporting a wig during the processing thereof, the combination according to claim 6, the rib elements in said rear section extending below said band member.

10. In a device for supporting a wig during the processing thereof, the combination according to claim 2, and a movable bar disposed within and attached to said frame and having thereon prong means, said bar being movable between an operative projected position and retracted positions, said prong means being so proportioned and positioned that when the bar is in its said projected position the prong means will protrude outwardly beyond said frame, whereby said prong means will penetrate a wig operatively positioned on the frame.

11. In a device for supporting a wig during the processing thereof, the combination according to claim 10, said bar being spring-loaded and normally yieldably in engagement with the said rigid section of the frame, and a finger-engaging portion on said bar for enabling it to be manually retracted.

12. In a device for supporting a wig during the processing thereof, the combination according to claim 11, said frame having an apical crown member and a plurality of spaced rib elements forming said front, side and rear sections, said rib elements and said bar being attached to and extending generally downwardly from said crown member, said finger-engaging portion extending below said rigid section.

13. In a device for supporting a wig during the processing thereof, the combination according to claim 12, said front section being the said substantially rigid section, and a substantially stiff band member extending across and connecting the rib elements on the front section, said band member having apertured means positioned and proportioned to permit said prong means to extend therethrough when said bar is in its operative projected position.

14. In a device for supporting a wig during the processing thereof, the combination according to claim 13, said prong means comprising a plurality of horizontally aligned prongs, said apertured means comprising a corresponding plurality of horizontally aligned apertured portions.

15. In a device for supporting a wig during the processing thereof, the combination according to claim 13, one of the rib elements being a central element positioned at the medial portion of said front section, said bar being normally in yieldable engagement with the rear surface of said central rib element, said prong means comprising two prongs flanking said center element, said apertured means in said band member comprising two correspondingly positioned apertures.

16. In a device for supporting a wig during the processing thereof, the combination according to claim 3, said front section being the said substantially rigid section and said rear section being the flexible section, said securing means on said rear section comprising prong means carried by two rib elements disposed at laterally opposite positions with respect to the medial portion of said rear section, said prong means extending rearwardly.

17. In a device for supporting a wig during the processing thereof, the combination according to claim 16, said prong means comprising a plurality of prongs in vertical alignment.

18. In a device for supporting a wig during the processing thereof, the combination according to claim 17, and outwardly extending prong means on two laterally opposite rib elements in said side section, said securing means on said front section comprising forwardly projecting prong means, all of said prong means extending obliquely downwardly.

19. In a device for supporting a wig during the processing thereof, the combination according to claim 3, said rib elements being of sinuous configuration with crest portions positioned for supporting engagement with a wig operatively positioned on said frame, whereby the spaces between said crests a e out of supporting engage- JORDAN FRANKLIN, P mary Examiner. ment with the said G. V. LARKIN, Assistant Examiner.

References Cited U s C1. UNITED STATES PATENTS 5 40 126;

3,132,778 5/1964 Leclabart 223-66 

